Coke-oven construction.



G. E. THAEKRAY. COKE OVEN CONSTRUCTWN. APPLICATION HLED 00128 1913.

Eatentefi Jan. 1917.

SHEET 1.

2 SHEETS 1171\5/55, I '6; g A

enonen n. rHAcKnAir, or wns'rmonr nononen, PENNSYLVANIA.

eo n-ovnn cons'rnnc'rron.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan, 9, 1917.;

Application filed October 28, 1913. Serial No. 797,701.

ToaZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. THACKRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Westmont Borough, in the count'yof Cambria and State of'Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Coke-Oven Construction; and I dohereby declare the following to be a fulh clear,

and exact description of the-invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to coke oven construction, and more especially to that class of coke ovens having long horizontal retort coking, or distilling chambers, with heating fiues in the side walls thereof, certain of the objects of my invention being to improve the construction and arrangement of the walls to increase their durability and prevent leaka e, and the manner of controlling the flow o the air and gas to and from the heating fiues.

Another of the objects of my invention is the manner of constructing expansion joints at the tops and bottoms of the walls of the retort whereby they may expand or contract without injurious efi'ects.

Another object or" my invention is the arrangement of introducing the heating gas into distribution pipes of different lengths, whereby the flow of gas may be controlled separately to each length and to eachpart of the ovenfiues, as desired, thereby maintaining the proper temperaturesin the different parts of the oven.

A further objectpf my invention relates to the gas burners which aredisposed in such amanner that the nozzles are easy of access for inspection or cleaning from the top of the battery, in case they become clogged-with dust or fused particles. These gas burners may be made small so they may be removed through the fines from the top of the battery and others inserted, or they may be v formed in the base blocks of the heating In case the gas distribution pipes are arranged side by side horizontally, a recess is formed on the under side or the base block wide enough to extend overthe ports of both distribution pipes, and this -tornrnvtion of the burners in the base blocks of the heating fiues with a recess wide enough to extend over the ports in both distribution pipes forms another feature or" my invention.

Another object of my invention is to gradually decrease the size of the air inlet ports from the ends of the oven to the center whereby a more uniform heat is imparted to the oven, as it will be readily understood that the exposed ends of the ovens, which are subject to outside cooling influences, Wlll require more gas than the center of the oven. As the inlet air ports decrease in size, Imay also enlarge the size ofeach of the heating flues, although Imay construct the heating fines of the same size the entire length of the oven.

A still further'object of my invention is embodied in the arrangement of theregenerators and the means for controlling the flow of the air and ofi'gasto and from the heating fines.

One of the particular features of my invention consists in the arrangement of the regenerators which are longitudinally dis' pose'd under eachvcoking' chamber and divided transversely of their length into four portions, the outer portions being of less length than the inner ones. These regenerators are adapted to receive heat from the oil-gases and by reversal of the flow therethrough are then adapted to heat the incoming air. With a given amount of gas delivered to the end sections of my oven by means of the gas distribution pipes and a similar amount of gas delivered to the interior sections of my oven by corresponding gas distribution pipes, the end sections being shorter than the interior sections, it will he i seen that a larger amount of heat is pro vided to the end portions of the oven than to the intermediate portions thereof, and this therefore has a tendency to maintain the heat'of the oven'uniform, irrespective of the exterior cooling influences which act on the end sections. In addition to this the inertia of the flow of ofl'-gases when transversing the oven lines, is such that as large as or a larger" proportion of these oil-gases or heating gases will pass through theend sections of the regenerators, thereby providing an amount or" heat suflicient in the end sections to thoroughly heat the incoming air after reversal, and this therefore provides sufiicient amount of heated air to said end sec tions which together with the amount of gas delivered to the corresponding heating flues I claims.

and intermediate sections of the regenerators and corresponding heating lines of lengths in the ratio of three to four, the end sections of the regenerators serving six pairs of heating lines and the intermediate sections of the regenerators serving eight pairs, although other proportions than this may be used within the scope of my invention. 7

My invention also consists in the novel constructions, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and pointed Having given a general description of my invention, 1 will now, in order to make it more clear, refer to the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a battery of retort coke ovens, the central part being broken away, arranging and controlling the air and offgas mains from the battery to the stacks. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of the coke oven taken on the line Ill-ll of Fig. 3, which is transverse of the battery, showing one form of distribution pipes and gas burners or nozzles. Fig. dis a vertical transverse section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2, this section being taken longitudinally of the battery and transversely of the ovens. i is a vertical transverse sectional elevation of the lower portion of the retort oven and surrounding parts taken on the same line as in Fig. 3, but on an enlarged scale to show the details more clearly and the manner of form-- ing expansion joints at the bases of the retort ovens. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation longitudinally of the ovens, showing the upper portion of the heating fines taken on the same line as in Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale to illustrate the details of the portion and the expansion joints at the top of the heating fiues. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevation taken longitudinally of the ovens on the line Vl-Vl of 4E. 'Z is. a vertical section longitudinally of the ovens, showing another form of burners and distribution pipes. These distribution pipes are arranged one above the other, the section being taken substantially on the same line as in i g. 2, but showing the distribu tion pipes in section. Fig. 8 is a vertical section, tra sversely of the ovens, taken on the line l r f of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the same line as Fig. 8,but showing the distribution pipes arranged. side by side horizontally with a recess termed in the under facesof the burner blocks wide enough to extend over the ports or openings of both distribution pipes. Fig. l0 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the reversing valves, showing the main air and flue connections thereto.

out in the appended showing the manner of the heating fines of Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the oven on the line XI-Xl of Fi 9, showing a portion of the end of the shorter outer distribution pipe in section and a part of the longer one, which extends to the intermediate set of heating fiues, in elevation. Fig. 12 is a detail section, transversely of the ovens, showing aremovable burner or nozzle with the distribution pipes arranged side by side as in Fig. 9. I

Referring now to the numerals of reference on the drawings :-1 indicates a battery of coke ovens with stacks 2 and 3 at the ends thereof, which stacks provide draft and carry away the oil-gases. Each stack 2 and 3 is divided centrally at its bottom portion by means of, a partition Wall i, forming a double chimney flue in the base of each stack, those in stack 2 being designated by the numerals 5 and 6, and in the stack 3 by 7 and 8. These division walls prevent eddies and interference of gas currents and facilitate the draft.

Outer main air and oil-gas flues 9 and 10 extend longitudinally under the battery and transversely of the coking chambers, and inner mains 11 and 12 of greater cross sectional areaextend longitudinally of the battery under the intermediate portion thereof. Thesemains 9, 10, 11, and 12 each have their ends projecting beyond the ends oi the battery, and over the ends of each pair, namely 9 and ll, and 1G and 12, is mounted a re versing-and air inlet valve hood 13, the detailed construction of which is shown in Fig. 10..

As illustrated in Fig. l, the left hand portions of the mains 9 and 11 are supplied with air through the valve and the left hand ends of the mains 10 and 12 by the valve 15; while the respective ends of these mains at the right hand end. of the battery are supplied with air by the valves 16 and 17. These "four valves control the flow of air to the battery, and the reversing portions thereoi control the direction of the oE-gases from the battery to the stacks to which they are connected by means of the oil-gas ducts 18, 19, 26, and :21, as shown in Figs. and if An air intake port is formed at the top of each valve casing, as indicated at 22, 23, 24, and 2-5, each having an adjustable mushroom valve, as shown at 26, 27, 28, and 29. Above mains 9 it) and communicating therewith by means oi passages 30, are

located a plurality of regenerators 31, which are below the coking chambers. The iuterior regenerators 39. are of greater length and area than the end regenerators 31, and are located above the mains 11 and lz-and connected thereto by the passages 33. it will be seen that each portion of each regenerator is connected to its main flue by three openings, 30 and 33 respectively, thus providing a complete distribution of air and ofi-gases to all parts of the I regenerators whereby their surface is fully utilized.

34 indicate the regenerator ports connecting with the tops of the outer regenerators 31, and 35 are similar ports for the regenerators 32. These ports 34 and 35 connect with the lower longitudinal oven flues 36, which are'divided at 64 into lengths corresponding to those of the regenerators located beneath them and the retort ovens 37. The lower oven flues 36 communicate with the heating fines 38 by means of horizontal ports 39'011 both sides thereof, which ports preferably decrease in size from theends of the oven owardthe center as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawingsitheupply of gas which is burned intheheating flues, en-v ters the battery by means of distribution pipes 40 and 41,.the pipes 40 being shorter than the pipes '41 and located above the same, both pipes being embedded in the' masonry construction below each rowv of heating flues 38. Below each individual flue 38 is on opening 42 in the distribution pipes 40 or 41 as the case may be, directing the gas to the nozzles or burners 43, which are seated in the floor walls of the heating lines 33.

The ports 39 admit air into the heating flues 38 just above the burners 43 at either side thereof, where it mixes with the gas which then burns and flows upwardly in the heating flues, thereby, heating the ovens, thence through the upper openings 44 which are each controlled by a damper 45 and thence into the top horizontal canals 46.

An expansion joint 47 is formed at the top of the division walls of the heating fines, as clearly shown in Fig. Sand at the base of the retort oven 37 as shown at 48 in Fig. 4. This expansion joint 48is made by fitting blocks 49 of refractory, material loosely into grooves 50 or resting their ends upon the ledges 51.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 11, gas is received by the distribution pipes 52 and 53 from the supply pipes 54 and 55. These distribution pipes 52 and 53, are constructed of refractory material formed in sections with their ends rabbeted together and provided with holes 56 for admitting the gas to the burners or nozzle bricks 57 which in this case are constructed in the base blocks '58 of the heatingfiues 38, as shown. The distribution pipe sections are preferably of rectangular outline in cross section and are either .built in the wall horizontally, one above the other, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, hr side by side, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, and in the latter case I prefer to form a recess 59 on theunder face of the base block 58, wide enough to extend over the holes 56 in either of the pipes 52 or 53. With this construction thebase blocks 49 of the retort oven 37 maybe modified by forming them with inclined edges to rest on correspondingly inclined sides of the wall, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. 1

The operation of my invention is as follows :Assumin that the parts are in the positions shown 1n the drawings, bituminous coal is fed to each retort oven atintervals of time dependent on the coking period, through the openings 60 at the top of the retort. It will be understood that the retort ovens will be charged. or discharged at different times, so that the operation of the battery as a whole will be substantially continuous and an approximately constant supply. of gas will thereby be generated. The distilled gas for the coal passes upwardly through branch pipes 61 on top of the battery, thence into the conduit 62, and thence through the gas washers, scrubbers, or other apparatus into a gas holder where the supplyand pressure is equalized, these appur: tenances being no part of this inventionand therefore not illustrated herein, and thence into the condenser (not shown). After the gases have been cooled, cleaned, and freed from tar, ammonia, etc., all or a part of the gases are returned to the battery through the distribution pipes, whereby they are supplied to the gas burners or nozzles to heat the ovens and thereby produce coke.

Referringto Figs.- i, 2, 3, and 10 of the drawings, the flow of the air and off-gas is as follows :-Air enters the valve hoods 13 through the intake ports 22, 23, 24, and 25,

passes thence into the mains 9 and l0,'thence' through the passages 30 into the regenerators 31, thence through the regenerator ports 34 to the horizontal air channels 36 thence through the ports 39 into the end groups of heating fines 38, where it unites with the burning gas from the distribution pipes 40 then flows upwardly through openings 44 at the tops of the said heating flues then through the upper horizontal canals 46, thence downwardly through the interior openings 44 into the interior group of heating fines 38, thence through ports 39 into the lower horizontal flue 36, thence through the regenerators 32. The ofi-gas flows into the regenerators 32 by way of the ports 35, then through the regenerators 32, then through the openings 33 into the mains ll and.12, then through the valve hoods 13 past the valves therein into the oii gas ducts 18, 19, 20, and 21, as the case may be, and to their respective chimneys 2 and. 3, whence it escapes into the air. 7 i

It will be understood. that the mains 9, 10, 11, and 12 are formed with a partition. at the center of the battery, as indicated at 63 in Fig. 1 and are operated from each end of the battery. When 1t is desired to reverse the fiow of the air and ofi-gases, the valves are turned so as to direct the inflowing air into the mains 11 and 12 and discharge the ofi gases through the mains 9 and 10, otherwise the operation is substantially the same, although the flow takes place in reverse directions through all passages except the stacks.

Although I have shown and described my improvements in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and spe cific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions. modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a plurality of horizontal retort coke ovens, of a plurality of regenerators extending longitudinally under each oven, vertical heating dues in the side walls of said ovens, a horizontal channel under each oven connected with each heating flue by a port, the regenerators under the end portions of the oven being of less length than those under the interior portions oi said oven, connections between the regener'ators and the said horizontal channels, means for supplying heating gas to each of the said vertical iiues, and means for supplying air to the regenerators and for reversing the direction of flow regenerators and heating lines.

2. A plurality of'horizontal retort ovens arranged side by side with vertical heating lines in the side walls thereof, a plurality of regenerators below each oven, horizontal channel between the regenerators and each oven connected to said regenerators and the through the heating -flu-es, the regenerators under the end portions of the ovens being of less lengththan those under the interior portions, means for supplying heating gas to the vertical lines, means for supplying air to "the re generators and means for reversing the dimotion of flow through said r-egenerators and heating Flues.

3. A horizontal retort coke oven, with vertical heating lines in e side walls thereof, a plurality of regenerators located directly below said coke ov'en coininun?- with said heating lines through a horizontal chan nel located between the tops of the regenerators and the bottom oi the oven, a gas supply to the end heating fines the ovens, a separate gas supply the interior heating fines of the ovens, the regenerators below and directly connected to each set of heating tlues being separate, whereby the heat ing of said even may be equalized.

t. in a retort coke oven having vertical side walls provided with groups oiivertieal heating fines, regenerators substantially as long as each of groups under each under each oven, a burner oven, a burner at the lower end of each heating fiue, means for admitting air into the heating fiues on either side of each burner, and a damper for controlling the openings at the upper end of each heating flue.

5. In a retort coke oven having vertical side walls provided with groups of vertical heating flues, regenerators substantially as long as each group of vertical heating fiues at the lower end of each heating flue, a plurality of distribution pipes of difiierent lengths connecting with saidburners and adapted to furnish gas to the burners in groups, and means for admitting air to the vertical heating fiues above the burners on opposite sides thereof.

6. In a retort coke oven having vertical side walls provided with a plurality of vertical heating fiues, a burner at' the lower end of each heating flue, distribution pipes of different lengths beneath said vertical heating iiues adapted to furnish gas to the burners in groups, one set of distribution pipes controlling the flow of gas to the grou s of verticalheating flues at the ends 0 the even, another set of distribution pipes for controlling the flow of gas togroups of vertical heating fines for the intermediate portion of the oven, and means for admitting air to the vertical heating tlues above the burners through the opposite side walls.

7. in a retort coke oven having vertical whereby the burning gas flows intermiu tently from the ends of the oven inwardly and downwardly, discharging through groups of intermediate lines, another set of distribution pipes adapted to control the flow of to groups of vertical heating fines of the intermediate portion of the oven, hereby the burning gas tlows intermittently roin the intermediate portion of the oven outwardly and downwardly, discharging through the groups of end fines, and means for admitting air to he vertical heating liues above the burners irough the opposite side walls,

in a retort coke even having vertical side walls provided with a plurality of vertical heating fines, a burner at the lower end each heating flue, openings adapted to admit air to the vertical heating ilues above the burners through the opposite side walls, distribution pipes of erent lengths beneath said vertical heating fines for supplying gas to the burners groups, one set oi rustribution pipes controlling the lie-w of gas to the groups of l heating flues flows intermittently from the intermediate v side walls end fines,

from the ends of charging through groups of intermediate fines, another set of distribution pipes for controlling the flow ofgas to groups of vertical heating. flues for the intermediate por-' tion of the oven, whereby the burning gas portion ofthe oven outwardly and downwardly, discharging through the groups of and means for reversing the direction of the gases in the groups of heating fines to produce said intermittent fiows. 9. In a retort-coke oven having vertical side walls providedwith a plurality of vertical heating fiues, a burner at the lower end of each heating flue, said vertical heating fiues being arranged in groups on each side of a central transverse wall, regenerators of length corresponding to each group, distribution pipes adapted to control the How of gas to each group of vertical heating fiues,

horizontal fiues adapted to admit air to each group of vertical heating fines and means for reversing the fiow of air and gas in the vertical heating fines.

10. In a retort coke-oven having vertical provided with a plurality of vertical heating fines, a burner at the lower end of each heating fiue, said vertical heating fines being arranged in two grou s of unequal length, the outside ones eing the shorter, on each side of a central transverse wall, distribution pipes adapted to control the fiow of gas to each end group of vertical heating fiues whereby the gas flows in wardly, distribution pipes adapted to control the flow of gas to each intermediate grou ofvertical heating fines whereby the gas ows outwardly, horizontal fiues adapted to admit air to and communicating with regenerators' substantially as long as each group of vertical heating fines, and means for reversing the flow of air and gas in the vertical heating fines.

11. In a retort coke oven having vertical side-walls provided with a plurality of vertical'heating fiues, a burner at the lower end of each heating flue, said vertical heating 'fiues being-arranged in two groups on each side-of. a central transverse wall, distribution pipes adapted to control the flow of gas to each end group of vertical heatin fiues whereby the gas flows inwardly, distri ution pipes adapted to control the flow of gas to each intermediate group of vertical heating fines whereby the gas flows outwardly toward the ends of the oven, horizontal ports connected to the regenerators and decreasing in size from the ends to the center of the oven adapted to admit air to each group of Vertical heating fines, the outside regenerators being of less length than the intermediate ones, and means for reversing the flow of air and gas in the vertical heating fiues.

12. A horizontal coke oven provided with a plurality of vertical heating fines in the side walls thereof, a regenerator extending horizontally below said coke oven divided into four sections, the end sections of said regenerator being shorter than the intermediate sections, gas distribution pipes arranged to supply gas to sections of the oven heating fines corresponding to the sections of the 'regenerators, means for reversing the direction of fiow through said flues and regenerators and means for controlling the supply of gas to said distribution pipes, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. THACKRAY. Witnesses:

ELMER SEAVEY, W. VON ALT. 

